

The original 7 piece rock and roll horn band formed in Concordia, Kansas in 1964. Members included Robin Hood, drums; Ron Balderston, lead vocals, trumpet & organ; Larry Jackson, bass, trombone & vocals; Phil Pfister, lead guitar, organ, vocals; Paul Justyna, saxophone; Mike Srite, trumpet & organ; Bob Burns, rhythm guitar.
The Original Sensational Showmen

National Guard Armory-Concordia - 1965
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
2014 Kansas Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
KANSAS MUSIC HALL OF FAME 2014 INDUCTION CEREMONY
Saturday, March 1st, 2014
All Ages // 6:00pm Doors // 6:30 Ceremony Start // 7:00pm Show
FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE
TICKETS:
All Tickets Are General Admission
$30.00* General Admission
All seating is available first come, first served
For more information, contact kansmusic@aol.com or ksmusichalloffame.org.
2014 Kansas Music Hall of Fame Inductees
Beast
Bon Ton Soul Accordion Band
Clif Major
Glow
Jimmy Dee & Fabulous Destinations
Junior Brown
Sanctuary
Wichita Linemen
Ed Down (Audio House) Director's Award
Donnie and Diane Bob Hapgood Award
Sunday, February 23, 2014
King Midas and the Mufflers - late 90's
Mau Maus - 1965 Abilene, Kansas
Soul Arrangement
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Old Vette's, Clifton, Kansas poster from 1963 era
These were the very early stages of our musical venture of playing in public. No recollection of what we sounded like but I am sure it was very simple and amateurish, but at least it was a start. Making handmade posters using Magic Markers and colored construction paper. As you can see, we were not very artistic but were creative. After making the posters, then we had to hand deliver them to places that would gladly display them in their store windows or bulletin boards. After all the expense, we probably made nothing at the gig! Those were the days!!! Phil Pfister and Larry Jackson left the Vette's to launch The Sensational Showmen
Monday, January 6, 2014
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
2014 Inductees to the Kansas Music Hall of Fame
The voting is over and the results are confirmed. Next March 1 the following will be inducted: Beast, Bon Ton Soul Accordion Band, Junior Brown, Jimmy Dee & Fabulous Destinations, Glow, Clif Major, Sanctuary and the Wichita Linemen. The Directors Award inductee will be Ed Down of Audio House, and the Bob Hapgood Award winner will be Donnie & Diane.

Sunday, November 24, 2013
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Pop's Pizza Parlor, Concordia, Kansas
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Monday, March 11, 2013
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Spider and the Crabs pictures
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Monday, January 7, 2013
The Rising Suns
The RISING SUNS (Coffeyville version) formed in Lawrence, Kansas in the mid 1960’s under contract and being promoted by Mid Continent Entertainment, a booking agency started by John Brown and Mike Murfin, that booked the band throughout the United States performing thousands of venues from Texas to Canada, and California to New York. The “SUNS” were known as the band to see and packed the venues they played. Known for producing great music, they were also known for putting on a great show with the ability to draw in the crowd and get the rock and roll, adrenalin flowing. Their music focused on artists such as James Brown, Otis Redding, Ray Charles, Joe Cocker, Earth Wind and Fire, Chicago, Tower of Power and many more. The dance concerts were advertised through the famed 50,000 watt KOMA radio station based in Oklahoma City, which reached approximately three million listeners per night throughout the western and central US. Through the contract years of 1966 through 1974 there were 23 different musicians that traveled the nation. One of the longest playing bands under contract with Mid Continent, the band would play three nights a week during the school term, and seven nights a week the rest of the year. Thirteen of those members reunited in 2006 to continue producing that good ole rock and roll, rhythm and blues sound discovering that their old fans, as well as new younger fans are enjoying that “SUNS” sound. The RISING SUNS were inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame in January 2007, and the Lions Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in October of that same year. They are scheduled for induction into the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Labor Day weekend, September 5, 2010
The “SUNS’ Members that reunited in 2006:
Isy Martin Jr. Guitar; vocals Anaheim Hills, CA
Bill Snow Bass; vocals Tulsa, OK
Butch Neese Bass; vocals Afton, OK
Mike Floyd Guitar; vocals Wichita, KS
Randall Grundy Keyboard; vocals Vista, CA
Steve Datson Drums Coffeyville, KS
John Keith Saxophone Coffeyville, KS
Jim Jensen Saxophone Birmingham, AL
Jack Rawlins Saxophone Ponca City, OK
Richard McBride Trombone Caney, KS
Doug Bundy Trombone Edmond, OK
Steve Alter Trumpet Jenks, OK
Doug Rike Trumpet Parsons, KS
Gene Tucker Road Manager Coffeyville, KS
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
The Fabulous Flippers-Where are they Now
So where are The Fabulous Flippers now? (As of 1998 article)
Dennes Frederick, bass guitarist, lives in Nashville and works as a chemist. Doug Crotty, sax player, practices law in Garden City. Jerry Tammen, drummer, is an investor in Larned. Gary Claxton, sax player, is in the insurance business in Bella Vista, Ark.
Terry Wierman, lead guitarist, is a carpenter in Hays. Danny Hein, vocalist, guitarist and keyboardist, is in the real estate business in Bella Vista. Roger Lewis, lead trumpet player, is a band director at Butler County Community College in El Dorado. And Loewen, after moving to Nashville and pursuing a career in contemporary Christian music, is now a property manager in Lawrence.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
South Dakota Rock and Roll Music Association 2013
SIOUX FALLS — Tyndall’s Groveland Park is among the 2013 inductees to the South Dakota Rock and Roll Music Association Hall of Fame, the association announced Tuesday. The April 13 induction at the Ramkota in Sioux Falls will include 10 bands from South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota, three venues, and four individuals who were early contributors to the enjoyment of rock ’n’ roll music in South Dakota.Playing at the 2013 induction are The Hursmen and Ma’s Boys, from Sioux Falls; Nickel Bag of Soul, from Flandreau; Outer Limits, from Madison; Burch Ray & the Walkers, from Spearfish; Lads of Sherwood, from Sisseton; and The Roselles Brothers, from Lead. Also performing will be two Iowa bands, The 7 Sons and The Velaires, from Sioux City.
The Trashmen of “Surfin’ Bird” fame have also agreed to perform.The Trashmen, from the Twin Cities, became world famous with the release of the 1963 song “Surfin’ Bird,” a medley of two songs by the Rivingtons, “Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow” and “The Bird’s the Word.” Most recently, the song again hit No. 3 in the United Kingdom in 2010 after a Facebook promotion.
The association also recognizes venues — dance halls, popular lounges and other facilities — that were instrumental in bringing people together to enjoy rock ’n’ roll. Inductees for 2013 include the White Eagle Ballroom, of New Effington; Horatios, of Brookings; Tyndall’s Groveland Park; and Lyal’s Music Store, of Lake Preston.
Individuals to be honored in 2013 are Promoter Dick Matousek, from Sioux City, and DJ Ray Durkee, from Aberdeen, with Dennis Brown, aka Jim Rose, Aberdeen, winning the Lifetime Achievement Award and the late Lloyd Nerland, Huron, winning the Spirit of the Music Award.
Now in its fifth year, the induction ceremony annually sells out to a crowd of 1,600 people.
Details, tickets and VIP tables are available for reservations online at SDRRMA.com.
Monday, November 19, 2012
2013 Kansas Music Hall of Fame Inductees
The 2013 Kansas Music Hall of Fame inductees have been announced. The induction ceremony and concert will be held March 2, 2013 at Liberty Hall in Lawrence. The new inductees are:
Devastating Dinks, Salina
Exceptions, Topeka
Ray Hildebrand, Prairie Village
Kerry Livgren, Berryton/Topeka
Chuck Mead, Lawrence
Mystic Number National Bank, Kansas City
Playmate Blues Band, Hays
Tempests, Hays
Steve Werner, Kansas City
Wizards From Kansas, Lawrence
Sherman Halsey, Independence (Directors Award)
Clyde Bysom and Junkyard Jazz, Lawrence (Directors Award)
Larry Emmett & Sliders, DeSoto (Bob Hapgood Award)
So far the Devastating Dinks, Ray Hildebrand, Playmate Blues Band, Tempests and Clyde Bysom & Junkyard Jazz have indicated that they will perform at Liberty Hall March 2. It’s important that we pack the place, so please spread the word about the show and make plans to attend.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
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